Disclaimer: Vision of Escaflowne and its characters and likeliness is copyrighted to its respective company(ies). But the characters I created and this story is copyrighted to me.

Rating: PG-13

FATES' JUDGEMENT

By Cosmos

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Robert Frost – "Fire and Ice"

Epilogue

Present day…

The evening breeze plays with my bangs while I sit beneath an old oak. My voice is calm but heavily laden with the grief that I carry with me unto this life. My lips move almost automatically, enunciating each word that weaves the tragic conclusion of my tale. Soon enough, like the life I retell, this story also comes to an end just as the last arrow of day slips beneath the dark horizon.

The silence that drapes over us is, surprisingly, tranquil and soothing. I glance quickly to my listener to see her reaction to all that I have told her. I find her attention rests on something in the distant. I can see her brilliant azure eyes are painted with sadness but also hope. For a moment, neither of us speak. Instead, we simply bathe in the welcoming serenity of a summer's twilight. Around us, the lamps become alit.

I took the moment to look around me. I am sitting on a bench near the edge of the sea, surrounded on all sides by majestic trees planted here purposefully to enhance the beauty of this natural park. Some trees with blossoms release their pale pink petals into the wind like a curtain made of tiny flowers. People are strolling pass me: laughing, talking, and simply being carefree. They do not realize the impending danger I pose to their existence by being here.

At length, I hear the middle-aged woman beside me speak up. Her voice is surprisingly calm and composed. She does not mock me. She does not scoff at the absurdity such a tale as mine may sound. Instead, she speaks in a tone that infers full acceptance of the narrative as a truth.

"If such an end should repeat," she asks, "will you make the same decision?"

I remain silent for a moment, contemplating on the significance such a question poses and the impact the answer will be.

"Yes," I respond.

"Even though you know that you cannot defeat fate."

"I do not intend to defeat fate," I say. Looking out into the aging night, I continue, "But I do not intend to let it win without a fight either."

She finally turns to look at me. I can feel her judging gaze upon my face. Unperturbed, I carry on. "I have come to realize that my destiny is to fight fate." I give a quiet chuckle at the irony my words sound. "Who knows maybe one day I may win, despite the odds."

She sighs despondently before returning her attention to the same spot she was looking at before. Then a smile appears on her face. She says, "Perhaps you will..."

I look at her rather surprised, despite what I said.

She ignores my expression as she continues; "I believe there is a young woman over there that has been waiting to meet you for a very long time."

She raises a slender hand and points in the direction her attention is resting on the whole evening. I follow her gaze and stiffen in astonishment.

Standing by the railing, dressed in a short brown skirt and a simple, yet elegant, white blouse, is a young girl a year my junior. Her back is to me. The warm, night wind amuses itself with her short hair, ruffling it about the nape of her neck.

I stand up and consciously approach her. She does not notice my presence until I slip my arms around her waist. Startled, she spins around within my embrace and looks up into my eyes, filling my vision with the colour emerald.

"Who—?" she begins to say before I cut her off with my lips. She stiffens in my grasp. I can sense fear rise in her but soon it fades away.

As our lips met, our powers amalgamate, unleashing the memories of our complete pasts in a flood of images and emotions. At length, I release her lips and gaze into her eyes affectionately. I can see tears swell in them as she speaks.

"You have come back to me."

"And I will always return to you, my love."

I pull her into my yearning arms and hold her in an embrace meant to last for eternity. I can feel her trembling body as joy overwhelms us both. But sorrow is never far. It is inevitable. I think, as I rest my cheek upon her silky head, I do not know how long fate will allow me to hold you like this, but I will continue to hold you till the very end.

"He is aware of it this time," someone speaks.

"Even before it has begun, it has been changed."

"Perhaps this will be the last."

The End.

-This story is dedicated to those whose fates were caught in the South Asia tsunami catastrophe-

-Our hearts and hopes are with you-

Author's note:

I am so sorry it took me this long to put the ending up. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed reading it though.

Well…that's the end. I know, bittersweet. I had debated (for two nights) whether I should change this ending (which is how I originally planned) to a "happy ending". I know some of you wanted a happy ending. However, as I thought about it, I decided to leave it as it is. I find that a happy ending would make this story simply fall apart in the finale. This conclusion is much more befitting to such a tale, in my humble opinion. However, I do want to know of your opinion on this story in its completed state.

By the way, if you haven't yet figured it out: Sora, Eos, and Angerona are actually the three Lady Fates. Recall Eos saying "my sisters". And, yes, the person re-telling the story is actually Van's reincarnation but I'm sure you've figured it out, especially after the ending.

This story has been a major challenge to write. There were times when I just couldn't visualize how it would continue, and then there were times when I contemplated over the number of ways it could possibly end, trying to choose a conclusion that would satisfy the plotline (without being too pessimistic or overly idealistic). Anyway, I hope you had enjoyed reading it. Thank you all who did read this, with special thanks to those who took the time to review it as well. Your comments encouraged me to continue during "dark" (writer's block) times.

Just to re-quote Arik: "Fate is not absolute because there is love." And I will leave you with that.

Best of the new year to everyone!

Cosmos 2004-2005